Advocacy

The Hepatitis B Foundation (HBF) is actively working on important state and federal patient advocacy initiatives to advance hepatitis B as an urgent public health priority. Through successful partnerships with federal, state and local agencies, and other nonprofit organizations and the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, we are able to more effectively leverage our efforts and maximize our resources to ensure that hepatitis B will not be forgotten or overlooked.

Learn more about what we are doing, and help us raise the national profile of hepatitis B to help the 2 million Americans … and the 400 million people worldwide … living with chronic hepatitis B!

2010

May 19

Presidential Message on World Hepatitis Day

May 19 – President Obama sent warm greetings to all those observing World Hepatitis Day and concluded with: “On World Hepatitis Day, we renew our support for people living with hepatitis and their loved ones, and for those who are working to improve treatment and prevention. I wish you all the best as you join together to take action against this terrible disease.” Read the Presidential Message on the White House blog. A copy of the Presidential Message is available here.

May

May is National Hepatitis Awareness Month

May is National Hepatitis Awareness Month, which was first designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2001. This is an important opportunity to help raise awareness about viral hepatitis in this country. With up to 5 million Americans affected by chronic hepatitis B and C, there is a lot that still needs to be done to improve prevention, education, and access to medical care and treatment!

May 4

Hep B Free Philly Campaign Kick-Off
The Hepatitis B Foundation and its partner organizations in Philadelphia are proud to launch this public awareness and education campaign to raise the profile of hepatitis B and to mobilize the city to improve access to care for the prevention and management of hepatitis B, particularly in the high-risk Asian communities.

May 19

1st Hepatitis Rally in Washington, DC
Please join us at this free event and lend your voice to support the
5 million Americans living with chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
We can’t wait any longer!
Time: 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm
Location: U.S. Capitol’s Upper Senate Park on Constitution Avenue
Speakers: Members of Congress, community advocates, and patients

For more information and to register, visit the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable which is sponsoring this event @ www.nvhr.org

May 19

World Hepatitis Day
2010 Theme: This is Hepatitis . . .
Developed by the World Hepatitis Alliance to mobilize individuals and countries to address the shocking fact that 1 in 12 people are living with chronic hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C! Learn more, get involved,
and take action!

Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Act (HR 3974)
We need YOUR help!! We need 100 sponsors to move this bill so please call or email your Member of Congress to ask them to lend their support to the HR 3974 Bill that will provide support for the 5 million
Americans living with chronic hepatitis B and C!
To find your U.S. Representative, click here.

WHO’s Executive Board Agrees on Viral Hepatitis Resolution
In a major breakthrough following extensive lobbying from the World Hepatitis Alliance and patient groups,
the 34 member states of the WHO EB have recommended a resolution on viral hepatitis to be discussed at the World Health Assembly during May 17-21, 2010.

Institute of Medicine Report on Hepatitis & Liver Cancer Concludes Current Approach to Prevention and Control is Not Working in the U.S. (January 10, 2010)
The U.S. National Academies of Sciences Institute of Medicine (IOM), which advises Congress on national scientific and health policies, issued a comprehensive report that confirms the government is not doing enough to help the 5 million Americans suffering from chronic HBV and HCV infections, which are the leading causes of primary liver cancer, which is the 2nd deadliest cancer and is on the rise in the U.S.
Read the complete IOM report on Hepatitis and Liver Cancer .